Lebanon school repair bond up for 2nd vote

Sunday

Nov 28, 2010 at 3:15 AM

On Nov. 2, MSAD 60 voters overwhelmingly approved a $250,000 bond for repairs at various district schools.

Since then, it was brought to the attention of the superintendent's office that a significant repair project that the bond was meant to fund — the replacement of the Knowlton School roof in Berwick — was inadvertently left out of the wording of the ballot question.

School district attorneys have advised the district to schedule a second vote to confirm that it is indeed the intent of district residents that part of this bond be used to replace the Knowlton roof. Since the error was the firm's mistake, the law firm of Drummond, Woodsum & McMahon will be paying all district and town costs related to holding this second vote.

It will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 7, from 3 to 7 p.m. in all three towns. Absentee ballots are available. For a ballot, call the Lebanon Town Office at 207-457-6082.

Selectmen starting up 'An Hour for my Neighbor'

At a recent selectmen's meeting, Town Clerk Laura Bragg gave a presentation of the "An Hour for my Neighbor" program, which a Berwick resident established to set up a fund to assist residents with heating fuel costs. After some discussion, selectmen decided the program would be a good one to implement in Lebanon. They plan to file the necessary paperwork for the program on behalf of the town. To learn more, visit anhourformyneighbor.com/file/Home.html.

HOCKEY TEAM RAFFLE

Noble High Ice Hockey is having a raffle to benefit the team's expenses for equipment and ice time at the Rochester arena. Raffle tickets for one cord of wood, donated by Cotty Tree Service, or 200 gallons of heating oil, donated and delivered by P Gagnon Oil Company, are being sold. Both of these items will be raffled on Jan. 1, 2011, and both will be delivered to the winners. Raffle tickets cost $1 for one or $5 for one arm's length. Tickets can be purchased at the Lebanon Transfer Station on Dec. 4, 11, and 18.

Time for Toys for Lebanon Kids

The Lebanon Fire Department and Ladies Auxiliary are again sponsoring their annual Toys for Lebanon Kids Program, formerly Toys for Tots, to help give less fortunate children in town a happier Christmas.

Application forms to receive toys from this program are available at the Lebanon Elementary and Hanson school offices as well as lebanonmefire.org.

Toys must be picked up by parents or guardians on Saturday, Dec. 18, between 1 and 3 p.m. at the East Lebanon Fire Station. To mail a monetary donation, send it to Toys for Lebanon Kids, c/o Fire Chief Skip Wood, 591 Little River Road, Lebanon, Maine 04027.

For more information about the Toys For Tots program, call Wood at 207-457-3922 or 207-457-1242.

Operation Santa

The Lebanon Rescue Department has renamed its annual campaign to help local families who have suffered traumatic losses to "Lebanon Operation Santa."

Holidays are sometimes very tough on children who have suffered a traumatic event or the loss of a loved one. Lebanon Rescue has begun collecting donations for its annual drive to benefit community members in need.

Donations sought include new, unwrapped toys, gift cards, and clothing for children up to age 17 as well as monetary contributions. There are several families in town of need of toys and/or clothes during this holiday season who have experienced a traumatic call or the loss of a loved one.

Donations and monetary contributions may be mailed to the Lebanon Rescue Department at 323 Depot Road, Lebanon, Maine 04027. Make checks payable to the Lebanon Rescue Corporation.

For more information, contact Assistant Chief Jason Cole at 608-5615 or asstchiefcole@lebanonrescue.com. You can also log onto the department's secure Internet donation system at www.lebanonrescue.com and make a donation by credit card or check online, with no fees.

You can also drop off the toy at the Lebanon Rescue Station on Route 202 (Blaisdell Corner Station) or call 608-5615 to arrange a pick-up.

Any toys left over will be distributed to Lebanon Fire Department for its Toys for Lebanon Children Program.

SCHOOLS PITCHING IN THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

Donations of canned goods and nonperishables are needed for the Christmas baskets that Lebanon and Hanson Elementary schools will be delivering to local needy families. Donation boxes are in each school lobby, and donations will be accepted until Friday, Dec. 10.

"Giving trees" are also in each school lobby for children to receive a Christmas gift. If a parent would like a child to bring a star home from the tree, send a note in to school or parents are welcome to select a star off the tree when they are visiting schools. The gift, along with the attached star, will also need to be returned to school by Friday, Dec. 10.

From the state house

State Rep. Joan Nass, R-Acton, who represents part of Lebanon, has submitted the following informations.

State officials urge Mainers to use generators safely: State health officials recently reminded Mainers that using gas-powered generators, kerosene heaters and other heating or power sources improperly can cause carbon monoxide poisoning if CO gas builds up in an enclosed space. CO is a colorless, odorless gas formed when most fuels are burned.

Warning signs of CO poisoning are flu-like symptoms: headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, drowsiness and confusion, but without a fever. CO poisoning can cause coma and death.

Officials urged the following safety measures to avoid CO poisoning:

If you suspect CO poisoning, leave the house at once and call 911 for emergency assistance. Then call the Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222 or a doctor. Do not re-enter your home until you are told it is safe by the fire department.